vic vela
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Hancock names new Denver sheriff, promises ‘fresh perspective’
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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced the appointment of a new sheriff Thursday, proclaiming a “new day” for a troubled department Patrick Firman, a longtime Illinois corrections chief, will take over a department that has been plagued with systemic problems and has cost the city millions of dollars in legal settlements over misconduct cases. “It’s going…
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Denver unveils construction-defects reform proposal to spur condo building
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Denver Mayor Michael Hancock this week unveiled a proposal aimed at reining in costs associated with construction defects lawsuits, an issue he believes has hampered the city’s ability to provide housing options for a booming city population. The proposed ordinance is the latest effort by a municipality to deal with a polarizing issue that has…
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Hickenlooper leads delegation on international trade mission
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Gov. John Hickenlooper flew to Japan this week as part of an international trade mission, a four-country trip that he hopes will bolster global relationships and lead to Colorado jobs. The governor is leading a 52-person delegation of business and academic leaders on a two-week trip that will also take them to China, Turkey and…
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Jeffco schools recall target files ethics inquiry against himself
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Backers of an effort to recall three conservative members of the Jefferson County school board have long-claimed the board has violated open meetings laws. But no complaint has ever been filed. So board President Ken Witt, one of the recall targets, announced Thursday he will take it upon himself to file an inquiry — into…
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Hickenlooper forms task force on Native American mascots
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There will be no debate at the Capitol next year over the use of American Indian mascots at public schools. Instead, a diverse commission intends to start a statewide dialogue on the contentious issue, which led to lengthy and often emotional legislative hearings earlier this year. Gov. John Hickenlooper issued an executive order Tuesday that…
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Backers of small business regulatory reform hope next session’s a charm
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Perennially frustrated backers of an effort to reform small-business regulations in Colorado are hopeful that next year’s legislative session will finally produce results. For the last three years, Republican-led legislation to require the state to issue warnings rather than fines for some first-time small-business rule violations has failed. Small-business groups have long argued that regulatory…
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Dem presidential candidates gear up for nomination fight
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Volunteers for Hillary Clinton’s Colorado campaign this week received an education in “how to win a caucus 101,” laying the team’s groundwork for winning votes that won’t be cast for another five months. “If we win Colorado, that puts Hillary in the best possible position to win the Democratic nomination,” Brad Komar, Clinton’s Colorado campaign…
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SD 12 GOP primary pits Gardner, Klingenschmitt
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A Republican clash in Colorado Springs is shaping up to be the most intriguing race of the upcoming legislative primary slate. “It’s a classic standoff of the current split that’s going on in the Republican Party,” said Bob Loevy, a retired Colorado College political science professor and longtime Colorado Springs-based political analyst. Former state Rep.…
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Lawmakers aim to shed light on some judicial branch records
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If the public wants to know how much the governor’s office or the Legislature spends on ink toner or Post-it notes, they can probably find that out. But good luck obtaining information on how much money the state spends on court cases. That’s because the state’s judicial branch is not subject to open records laws.…
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Democrats Herod, Goldhamer square off to represent Denver’s House District 8
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If voters based their support on candidates’ last names (which they don’t – probably), Aaron Goldhamer would cruise to victory in next year’s state House District 8 race. “People say, with a name like Goldhamer, you either need to join ‘The Strong Arm’ or be his arch-nemesis,” Goldhamer, an attorney, said of the well-advertised Denver…
